>Akai’s MPC range has taken many forms over the years: from the chunky retro samplers of the ’90s, through compact MIDI controllers, to the CPU-equipped DAW-in-a-box models of the current lineup. With the MPC Key 61, however, Akai are moving away from the MPC’s traditional pad-focussed design for the first time and introducing a keyboard-equipped MPC.
The MPC Key is a self-contained workstation keyboard with a built-in CPU. Like its current gen siblings, this allows the hardware to run a slightly restricted version of the desktop MPC 2 software, which can be used to sequence sounds, sample, record, process, mix and perform all without the need to connect to a computer.
The central feature of the hardware is the semi-weighted, aftertouch-equipped keyboard. This
puts a new emphasis on the MPC’s capabilities as a playable instrument. Akai boast that the MPC Key setup features 25 instrument plugins, which run the gamut from FM synthesis through to virtual analogue, multi-sampled pianos, strings and
